Tengrinews.kz - How will the new school nutrition standard affect the operation of school cafeterias? This question was posed to the Minister of Education, Gani Beisembayev.
"Considering that different regions allocate varying amounts per child, but generally within the limit of 500 tenge, how much will school meals for students increase in cost under the new nutrition standards being developed by the Ministry of Health?" the minister was asked during a government briefing.
Gani Beisembayev responded that the new school nutrition standard primarily aims to ensure quality.
"The Prime Minister has instructed that nutrition norms be aligned with international standards. Therefore, the Ministry of Healthcare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has nearly completed this work. The remaining step is adoption. Additionally, funding allocation falls under the purview of akimats (local administrations). They must ensure compliance with these norms. Ultimately, the goal is to guarantee quality of nutrition. This is not just about providing free meals but ensuring they are of high quality. Hence, the directive also included a review of all financial allocations made by akimats. In this regard, pricing policies will also be revised," the minister explained.
According to him, the calculations are not yet complete. However, the new school nutrition standard is expected to be adopted in January 2025.
"Are we correct in understanding that once these standards come into effect, items like candy bars, buns, chips, and pastries will disappear from schools?" journalists asked.
"There's no need to worry. Our primary concern is the health of our children, so we will do everything possible to ensure healthy food options in schools. Both schools and akimats must focus on providing healthy and quality nutrition for children," said Beysembayev.
It is worth noting that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently commented on the quality of food in school cafeterias during an agricultural workers' forum. He emphasized that the quality of food served to children requires significant attention.
